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(No Model.) 4.8heetS-Sheet 1.

- W. H. AUSTIN. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LASTS FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES.

No. 494,771. PatentedApr. 4, 1893.

M55555. INVENTEIR- (No Modem 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. AUSTIN, MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LASTS FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES. No. 494,771. PatentedApr. 4, 1893.

e T T m! (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet a.

W. H; AUSTIN. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LASTS FOR BGOIS 0R SHOES. No; 494,771. PatgntedApr. 4, 1893.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. H. AUSTIN. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LASTS FOR BOOTS OB. SHOES.

N0 49 1,7711 Patented Apr. 4, 1893.

w E5555. .5 IINVENT QRQ r gm 5 mi J? 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. AUSTIN, OF BROOKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, WILLIAM H. CARY, WVILLIAM THOMPSON, AND AUGUSTUS A. DELANO, OF

SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING LASTS FOR BOOTS OR SHOES..

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 494,771, dated April 4, 1893.

Application filed January 29, 1892. Serial No. 419,666. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. AUSTIN, of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new 5 and useful Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Lasts for Boots or Shoes, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In the manufacture of lasts for boots or shoes in a last machine there is left on each last at the heel and toe of the last as it is finished by the last machine, a stub or portion, where the last is held in the lathe at each end, which portion or stub has had heretofore r to be cut off, trimmed and finished into the proper shape byhand, and this invention consists of a machine constructed and arranged for operation substantially as hereinafter described, to cut and trim off the stub or portion left by the last machine at the heel of the last to make the heel of the proper shape and outline all substantially as hereinafter fully described reference being had to the accompanying sheets of drawings in which,

Figure l, is a front view. Fig. 2, is a plan view and elevation. Fig. 3, is aplan view. Fig. 4, is a vertical cross section online alt-4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5, is a detail vertical section at right angles to the section line 66, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6, is a detail horizontal section on line 6-6, Fig. 2. Fig. 7, is a detail horizontal sec tion on line 77, Fig. 2. Fig. 8, is a detail central vertical longitudinal section of the support for the pattern last or lastto be oper- 5 atecl upon. Fig. 9,is a detailcross section on line 9-9 Fig. 4.. Fig. l0,is a detail end view of pattern last and its support. Fig. 11, is a detail horizontal section on line 11, Fig. 2. Fig. 12, is a detail side elevation of some of the parts shown in Fig. 2, Figs. 5, G, 7, 8, 9,

10, 11 and 12 being enlarged.

In the drawings A represents a frame composed substantially of side uprights B, and Crossbars O, on which is supported the vari- 5 cos parts of the machine.

D is a vertical rod or spindle made in two parts a, 12, arranged to freely move up and down in bearings (Z, d, in the frame bars 0, the two parts being connected together by a so frame E, in and on which is supported the last former or pattern F, the part a, also having another frame G, secured to itat its upper end in and on which frame G is supported the unfinished last H, which is to be operated upon by the machine.

To the upper end of the upper or last supporting frame G, is secured in any suitable manner a vertical endless screw rod (2, and on its upper end an eycf, to which one end of a cord or rope g, is attached, which passes over 6o pulleys h, and has a weight or, secured to its other end which acts to hold up or balance the vertical rod and parts carried by it.

The frame carrying rod D, rests by an under central socket n, in its lower part b, on a pivot or center r, of a horizontal arm j, of a vertical rack bar K, which is arranged to move up and down in side grooves 25, in the portion L, secured to the frame, which en-' gages with a gear M, on a horizontal shaft N, turning in bearings 11., secured to the part L, of the frame, and the frame itself, which shaft extends to the outside of the frame work and has on its outer end agea-r P, as shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 The pattern last frame E, is composed of a horizontal plate Q, secured to the upper end of the part b, of the rod D, two side arms or bars v, extending upward therefrom in substantially a vertical line and connected together at their upper ends by a bar or plate w, which is secured to the lower end of the upper part a, of the rod as shown in front view in Fig. 1, more particularly.

Adapted to slide back and forth on the horizontal plate Q, is a plate R, it having a dovetail groove 1/, on its under side adapted to fitover dovetail edges of the horizontal plate on which plate R, rests the pattern or pattern last F, by its ball portion its toe end abutting against the upright portion a. of an angular piece b'secured by its other part to the plate by a set screw (1 passing through an elongated slot 6 therein, and the heel of the pattern last resting in between and on 5 two lugs orblocks f secured to the back edge of the plate Q, by screws g which pass through slots, in the lugs and screw into the bacl= edge of the plate Q, so they can move to'and from each other across the plate, to adjust 10o them to the thickness of the pattern last and when so adjusted they are secured in position by their set screws g. The angular piece I) is also arranged to be moved forward and backward on the plate by its slot 6 to adjust its position thereon to correspond to the length of the pattern last and is secured by; its screw when in such adjusted position.

The upper frame G, is a duplicate of the lower frame E, and in and on it, is to be secured the unfinished last to be operated upon by the machine and which is secured in a like manner as the pattern last and all the parts are lettered the same as the lower frame, the description of the frame E, answering for this frame.

To secure and hold the pattern last in po sition on its rest plateafterit has been prop erly set, a short block or ,holder S, havinga? pointed end and a screw h is placed between thepattern last and the upper part or bar 20, of the frame and the screw being turned-in the proper direction bearing againstthe plate w it presses firmly upon the pattern last and} holds it firmly in position, as shown more; particularly in Figs. 4, and 1 The ,unfinished last is held in its adjusted position by, a vertical ,rod 'm, at theside of thescrew rod Q 2, which can freely slide up and down in; sockets n in two screw .nuts T screwing on the rod atherod m having.acircularflanged head T which engages with an innertcircular shouldered groove 6' in the under side of a, plateor handlenut U, screwing upon the rod; m so that bylthis engagement of the rod with z the nut U, as the nut is screwed up and down on the rod e,,the rod m will move up ,andi down,so that screwing the vn utvdown, the rod j m will the pressed firmly upon the top of .the last and .hold it firmly in'its adjusted position on the plate Q, as shown more ,particularly in Fig. 4. 5

V is a frame pivoted at u to the .frame work so it can swing horizontally thereon,; which frame carries the cutter or knife W, for operation on the last, and the guide or; gage 'Y, which bears upon the pattern last F,, and gages the action-of the cutter on the last being operated upon, as usual in last machines except as totheir connection with the; present invention.

Near the cutter and guide end of the frame V, on its upper and lower arms A of the; frame are connected by pivots '0 links B,.in i turnconnected by pivots w, to other linksG, which surround and are connected and secured by set screws 11 to a vertical rod D adapted to turn in bearings of brackets E'f of the cross bars 0, of the framework.

Attached to the rod D by a setscrew a isl an arm or handle F for operation thereof; pulling it forward swings the link connection forward which allows a spiral spring G se-; cured by one end to thecutter frame V, and; to the cross bar'C,"to swing it forward on its: pivots bringing its guide'or gage Y, in position to bear upouthe pattern last, the cutter frame beingheld by its spring G for its outter to act upon the last; pushing the handle backward the link connection is swung back which moves the cutter frame back into its normal position,shown in Fig. 3, in which position the link arms are swung back far enough for their central pivot to, to be horizontally :backof a straight line between the two outer pivots of the links, at which point a pin 19 secured to the center rod D abuts against the bracket E preventing any furtherback ward movement ofthe frame, which is there held by its spring, so it can not accidentally move forward, but if the handle is pulled forward, as soon as the central pivot wmoves forward of such line the spring will then-act to move the cutter frame into position and hold it for {the action of its cutters upon the last.

Thecutter NV, .isattached to an arm H secured .byascrew d [to the upper endiof {a vertical shaft J adapted ,to turn in bearings e in the cutter frame Vand having a pulley f for operation thereofl-whichshaft has secured to its lower end the guide or gage Y, which guide is semi circular in verticaloutline and semicircular or round in cross section onits outer edge as shown in plan inFig. .6, and in cross section in Fig. 5. The cutter is .made of astrip or flat barofsteel and bentoverin :thearcbf a circle having acutting edge 9 on ouesideitbeing bentso that its cutting edge will correspond with the oircularoutline of jthecross section of the. guide. Diametrically opposite to the cutter on its .bar or holderH is another cutter K made .of a striporbar of steel and bent and secured @thereto like theother cutter NV, and havinga cutting edge h but which is a little less dis ;tance radially from the axial .centter,fof the shaft and .is also a little higher than .thecut- -.ter W which balances the cutter W, and also cuts ,a little in advance of the cutter.

Theguide or gage Ytis secured to the under side ofthe end of the lower arm A of the cutter frame V on which the cutter shaft J rests, as followsz-A pin L is screwed firmly into the under sideof the arm A its projecting end being squarein crosssectionand having a transverse screw socket at through which screws the screw M passing freely freely through the end n of an arm riot the gage which initsarm r" has a longitudinal slot 23 to freely fit over the square end of the pin L preventing its turning horizontally, the arm end having a pin a which engages with a circumferential groove 1; in the screw to prevent its longitudinal movement, the

. screw having cross arms ,or handle .10 for operation of the same, so that turning in or outthe screw M, thegage Ycan be moved horizontally forward and backward so that it can be set in relation .to the radial distance of thecutter from .the'central axial lin eof the shaft, for the desired operation of the cutter on the last, and when set it is secured by a setscrew 11 The gear P, on the outer end of the shaft N, meshes with asmaller gear N on a shaft P turningin hearings in the framework, and which carries at the side of the gear J. a ratchet wheel Q. In front of this ratchet wheel is a pawl R pivoted at b to a block of the frame and having'a hook end d to engage with the teeth of the ratchetwheel Q at its front side, and at the rear of the ratchet wheel is another pawl S pivoted at e to a block of the framework and having its end f adapted to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel at its side. These two pawls are connected together by a spiral spring T which acts to hold them to their engagement with or in position to engage with a ratchet tooth of the ratchet wheel as hereinafter described. The weight m, connected to the carrying frame rod D and all its parts and the rack bar K, is not quite sufficient to overcome the weight of all these parts, so that if otherwise not supported the rod and its parts carried by it will drop its full movement, and to regulate such movement from its highest position to its lowest position and make it by a step by step or intermittent motion, the spring pawls R and S are arranged for operation in connection with the ratchet wheel and gears and as there is a constant downward pressure .of the rod and its parts, the ratchet wheel is held from movement and consequently the rod and its parts by its engagement with one or the other of the spring pawls, which will then hold the rod and its parts in suspension, and if the engaging pawl is moved away from its connection with the ratchet wheel, the rod and its parts are. free to drop, turning the ratchet wheel until it engages with the other spring pawl, and so on, the engaging point of one spring pawl being slightly higher or lower than the other according to the distance of the desired movement of the ratchet wheel and its rack bar with the rod and its parts. To operate these pawls so that the ratchet wheel will alternately engage with one and the other, to let the rod and its parts drop step by step, for the purposes hereinafter described, the following mechanism is constructed and arranged.

U is a horizontal bar adapted to slide forward and backward in a guide and support g of the frame which bar has two horizontal arms V and W secured thereto and in such manner that they can be moved back and forth on said bar for adjustment thereon, as to their distance apart, being secured thereto by set screws b when so adjusted, which arms project outward through the frame and between the two spring pawls, so that each pawl will bear or rest against its respective arm of the bar as shown in Figs. 2 and 12, the bars being adjusted as to their distance apart in such manner that when one pawl is engaged with the ratchet wheel the other will be disengaged and vice versa, as shown in said figures. The horizontal bar is limited in its movement in one direction by a block m adapted to move on said bar and secured by a set screw it which abuts against a fixed arm g of the frame and in the opposite direction by the abutment of the arm V against another fixed arm g of the frame. The bar also has oppositely horizontally projecting arms A ,B secured byset screws which are adapted to be adjusted thereon, and which are the operating arms of the bar to move it forward and backward as the case may be, to correspondingly move one or the other of the spring pawls to and from the ratchet wheel.

Secured to the side of the pattern last frame is a vertical U shape bar projecting therefrom for its middle or vertical portion to be between the two operating arms A" B of the bar U. The upper or last frame has a handle D which projects forward into position for operation thereof.

On.the rack-bar-gear shaft N, is a roll E which has one end of a belt F secured thereto and wound thereon, once or twice, its other end being secured toa projecting pin or arm a of a treadle G pivoted to a horizontal rod H" connecting the two rear legs of the frame as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. If the'rod and its parts with rack bar have been lowered to its lowest position the belt F in such movement is wound upon its roll E which raises the treadle, and to then raise the rod &c., to its uppermost position, the treadleis pressed down which pulling by its belt upon the roll turns it and its shaft in the opposite direction, and thus through its gear M, raises the rack bar and the rod and its parts into their highest position.

The operation of the machine is as follows:- The normal position of the machine is as shown, more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The pattern last having been first secured in place on its frame and the unfinished last to be operated upon secured in place on its frame all substantially as described, power is applied to the machine which operates the pulley on the vertical or cutter shaft J revolving it and its cutters quite rapidly. The rod D and its parts are then raised by the treadle or have previously been raised into its highest position, or so that the last to be operated upon will be above the horizontal plane of the cutters, as shown in Fig. 2, more particularly. The operator then swings the cutter frame forward by its handle F which brings its guide or gage forward in position to bear upon the pattern last B, when itis low enough for such purpose. The operator then taking hold of the handle D swings the rod and its frames to the left for instance and then to the right, back to the left and so on, back and forth. As the pattern frame is swung to the left it also swings or moves forward the arin C" and just at the last part of its forward movement it strikes against the operating arm A" of the bar U, and moves it forward a sufiicient distance for its other arm V to move the spring pawl R from its engagement with the tooth of the ratchet-wheel Q, at the same time by the action of the spring T the other spring pawlSismoved forward, into such-aposition, that as thespring pawlR E releases the ratchet wheel it is eausedto turn by the weight of the rod and its parts through 5 the rack bar, the tooth of the ratchet wheel: nearest the spring pawl Swill strike against it, which will hold the wheel from further:

' movement, stopping'the rod and its partsfrom I is swung in the opposite direction and so on 5 until the patternklast has passed below the: gage. As :the rod and its frames-move down, i

' when'the pattern last and the last tobe operated upon at their lowermost part arein the horizontal planes respectivel yof the gage and 1 I will be presented {to thelcu-tter and'cut by itl andso on untilthe heel'of therlast is trimmed 3 from its lowest to its highest pointinaccord-f ance with theloutlineiof the pattern last. The cutter frame is then swung back for the cut, ters to beout of the way, the last is removed, I anothersecuiredin place, the rod and its frames raised bypressing down the treadle,when all3 is ready for trimming the heelvof thenew last F as before and so on until all the lasts are 1 trimmedcorresponding to the former patter-n. F The gage for the pattern lastmovingin aahor-izontal plane and being somewhat thin, and the step by step downward movement of the pattern and last frame being of small degree, I thegage will present itself to a very small p01:- 1 tioniof the curved shape of the pattern last, closer-and to a better degree so that the cut-{ ters will surely cut and trim the heel corre-L spondingly, makinga true and correct outline of the heel of the last and conforming more: fully and much better-to the shape of the pattern last, than in machines which have their gage and cutters move or revolve in a vertical plane, which as is obvious makes it veryl diflicult for the gage to fit the vertical curvatureof the heelof thepattern last at all points, especiallyif the last to be trimmed has a deep 5 and sharp curvature of the heel or is a high one,but all this is obviated in the presentin vention by the movement of the gage and cutter in a horizontal plane.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 I claim is- 1. In a last trimming machine, aframework,

a vertical rod or shaft provided with means for carrying a last-pattern and last and arrangedto move up and down in suitable bearings and to swing back and forthin said framework, a frame pivoted to a suitable sup- ,port'and adapted to swing on said pivot in a horizontal plane to and from said last pattern and last, a gage or guide securedto said swinging frame arranged to bear upon said ilastpattern, a revolving shaft in said swing,

ting frame and a cutter or cutters secured to said shaft and arranged to -revolive in a :horizontaliplanepr in ,a planeparallelorsubstan tially parallel to the bottom of the last pat- .tern. I

2. In alast trim min g-m-achine, a frameworik, a vertical rod or shaft provided with means gfoincarrying a last pattern-and "last and arrangedtomoveupanddorwnin suitableibeartings in said framework, a rack ibar-on one side of said :rod, a shaft arrangedato turn in I suitable bearings inzsaid framework, algear ton said shaft engaging with said rack bar,

another gear on said shaft agear on.arevolrvtingshafitlengaging with saidlatter gear and engaging,withmechauism \to'allow of an in- ;termittent motion of said gears andrack'bar, :a frame pivoted :to asaitablesulpport and adapted to swingvon said pivot in a horizon.- (tal plane to and from said -last pattern and last a cutter or cutters secured to said frame, said vertical rod being provided with an arm or :means as itsis swung backiand forth to re- ;lease said gear mechanism to allow said .ver- ;tical rod to intermittently fall for thepurpose specified.

3. In alast-trimming machine,aframework, a vertical rod or shaft provided with means gfoincanrying a last pattern and last arranged tomoveup and down in suitable beari-ngsin said framework, a rack baron one side of said rod, a shaft arranged to turn in suitable gbearings in said framework a gear .on said shaft engaging with said rack bar, another gearlon said shaft, agearon arevolving-shaft engaging with-said latter gear, a-ratchet Wheel o-n'said latter shaft, two springpivotedpawls adapted to engage with said ratchet wheel, a bar or arm adapted to move forward and backward in suitable bearings having projecting arms to engage or bear respectively on the inner adjacent sides of the spring pawls, and oppositely projecting arm s, and an arm on said track bar rod, arranged in the swing or rock of the rack bar rod to bearfirst against one and then the other .of the'oppositely projecting arms .of said sliding bar for the purposespecified.

4:. In a last trimm'ingmachine, a framework, a vertical rod .or shaft provided with means for carrying a last pattern and last and arranged to move up and down in suitable bearings insaid framework, arack bar onone side of said rod, a shaft arranged to turn in suitable bearings in said framework, a gear on said shaft engaging with said rack bar, an-

other gear on said shaft, a gear on a revolving shaft engaging with said latter gear, and engaging with mechanism to allow of an intermittent motion of said gears and rack bar, aframe pivoted to a suitable support and adapted to swing on said pivotina horizontal plane to and from said last pattern and last a cutter or cutters secured to said frame, a spring connecting said swinging frame with the support, a link joint connected to said frame and a rock shaft provided with a handie, and said rod being provided with an arm or means for releasing said gear mechanism to allow said rod to intermittently fall for the purpose specified.

5. A guide or gage for bearing upon the heel of the last pattern having an arm and a WILLIAM H. AUSTIN.

Viitnesses:

WM. THOMPSON, EDWIN W. BROWN. 

